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First sergeants making a difference

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael A. Cossaboom
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  When an Airman is having a tough time at work or home, it can affect the mission. It could cause a lack of productivity or an unsafe and stressful work environment. But, with a walk down to the first sergeants office, the problems that were felt before could go away.

"As a first sergeant we're in charge of taking care of our Airmen," said Master Sgt. Jeffrey Van Strydonk, 20th Comptroller Squadron first sergeant. "We make sure they are healthy, have high moral, and that everyone is being taken care of."

Due to the nature of the job, first sergeants have to keep an "eye" on Airmen.

"I can walk into an office at any given time and know when someone is having a rough day just by looking at them," said Van Strydonk. "That's our job, to get out and be with our Airmen, to know who and how they are."

Being a first sergeant is a special duty assignment assigned to senior non-commissioned officers. First sergeants act as a liaison between the commander and the Airmen.

"Before the commander makes a squadron decision and signs off on paper work, I have to see it," said Van Strydonk. "I have to make sure I protect his signature. I don't want him signing something that could be illegal. Then after its all good to go, I make sure that the Airmen know about it."

First sergeants help Airmen with any problems they may have. They find counseling help, financial aid, or anything else they can do for their Airmen.

"When I was an acting shirt, before I got my diamond, we got a call from a squadron on base telling us an Airman hasn't showed up in a couple days," said Van Strydonk. "We went to his house and he was sitting on the floor, crying."

"His wife had left, and it wasn't the first time," continued Van Strydonk. "This Airman had been going through so much and he had no one to turn to. He had kids to handle, his wife was leaving him, his chain of command wasn't helping, and he was trying to test for staff sergeant all at once. He broke down."

Van Strydonk was able to help the Airman through his problems. He helped him sort out his kid's situation, helped back him up with his chain of command, found him marital counseling, and gave him study tips for his promotion test.

Two weeks before Van Strydonk left Moody Air Force Base, Georgia., he saw his work pay off.

"Right before I left I was able to watch that Airman put on staff sergeant," said Van Strydonk. "I knew that I helped him go from a broken senior airman, to a superstar staff sergeant. That was an amazing day. I realized then just how important our job is."

First sergeants have the ability to help change an Airmans' life and they will do it every chance they get.

"First sergeants have helped me on many occasions through my Air Force career," said Senior Airman Quest Largent, 20th Fighter Wing nonjudicial punishment paralegal. "They've not only helped better me as a person, but as an Airman. For that I will forever be grateful."

Whether at home or at work, deployed or not, whenever an Airman has problems, there is always one person that can be turned to, the first sergeant.